Anna Pearson's Needlepoint Blog

India mania has hit! We both see and hear a great deal about India; their politics, culture and history.   Their Prime Minister Narendra Modi has just been on a State visit to England resulting in excellent trade agreements – the first visit by an Indian PM for more than a decade.   In addition the Victoria & Albert Museum here in London has also catered to our long term interest in all decorative crafts with the current exhibition Textiles of India and the Bejewelled Treasures, the collection of Al Thani which opened last week. The Textile exhibition is so comprehensive and beautifully displayed, for once I visited it twice – there was so much to enjoy.   Every stage of existence, birth, betrothal, marriage and death is marked in lndia with gifts of cloth. The exhibits show the love of colour and texture all augmenting life’s rich pageant.     Even the spinning wheel became a weapon in the struggle for women’s freedom. I have been lucky enough...

Rudolf Nureyev said that whenever he danced a role it told a story;   I am similar – all my designs have a story behind them. Some from the place where I got the inspiration and others from motifs or colour combinations that caught my eye. My collection of designs is inspired by the dedication and expertise of the craftsmen and women who originally made them often centuries ago. India Some of my favourites that come to mind are ‘India’ (available on both 14 and 18 mesh canvas);   it was on my very first holiday with my husband in northern India where I saw decorative stone grilles instead of windows to allow cool currents of air through – Robert was much perplexed at my request for a photo but delighted when he saw my needlepoint interpretation. Another favourite is 'The Tiles of St Mark’s';   again inspired by a lovely trip to Venice, a first for me .   The Cathedral’s interior is dazzling with walls and ceilings covered with gold ground mosaics but i...